Should I cancel my phone service?

[GarlicBreath]

Hi. Can I cancel the telephone service at my house and still get DSL?

I have SBC Ameritech for my local telephone service, Opex for my long distance, Direct TV DSL, and Sprint PCS for my mobile phone. Ameritech has pissed my off to no end, when I attempted to get DSL service through them, most recently.

I'm thinking about completely cancelling all phone service in my house and just using my mobile phone. I'm single, and I'm pretty sure it makes economic sense. But I'm wndering if I can still get my Direct TV DSL internet service if I cancel my loacl and long-distance service. Anyone know?

Thanks.

 

[minendo]

I am interested to find this out. I have DSL and phone service through Verizon, but I (and my roommates) never use the phone. We pay almost $35/month just for phone service, but I don't know if we can cancel it and still have DSL.

 

[apoppin]

For a definitive answer, simply call the CSR at your telephone Co. . . .

(and then let us know)

 

[wyvrn]

I doubt it. The local telco's own the lines DSL runs on. Part of what you pay, no matter to whom you pay it, goes to the local telcos. I doubt very seriously that you could get DSL without a phone line installed. At least that is the way it used to be when I did DSL support, and I doubt the telco's are going to give up an revenue they don't need to.

Edit: to clarify, lots of areas have two telephone companies. For instance, locally I have verizon and southwestern bell. Verizon owns the equipment and lines, and SWB pays a surcharge to have phone line accounts on Verizon's infrastructure. I can get Verizon DSL, but not SWB because Verizon, while allowing new phone accounts because of law, does NOT have to allow SWB to offer DSL lines in its network. In my area where SWB owns the infrastructure, they treat Verizon the same way. Can give phone accounts, but no DSL.

 

[ElFenix]

get a cable modem. cable modem doesn't even require cable tv. its another $10 above what you'd have if you had cable, but whatever. screw dsl. slow anyway.

 

[minendo]

<< get a cable modem. cable modem doesn't even require cable tv. its another $10 above what you'd have if you had cable, but whatever. screw dsl. slow anyway. >>


DSL slow? My @ss. Not all of us have cable available by the way. Not to mention the cable service available to me blows donkey balls.

 

[djheater]

<< For a definitive answer, simply call the CSR at your telephone Co. . . .

(and then let us know)

>>



heh, you've obviously never dealt with Am-tech's CSR's... They know less about thier services than I do, for sure. If you can wade through to a tier two you might be talking to someone who knows something.....

A ggod place to go with these questions would be a board which specializes in it. Post your question HERE They are always very helpful.

 

[RossMAN]

I doubt you can cancel your POTS (plain old telephone service) and still have DSL through your local telco.

The best solution is to get cable broadband plus cell phone with free long distance (VoiceStream Wireless or Verizon offer the best bang for your buck rate plans).

I have a few friends who have gone this route.

$35/month AT&T @Home cable internet (they own the cable modem) and $40/month for mobile phone.

 

[GarlicBreath]

Thanks, but I already had cable. They overloaded my node or something, my pings were in excess of 1000 ms during peak hours. I went through broadband hell trying to get it fixed before switching to DSL. I will use two tin cans and a string before I ever go back to Comcast.